This site was originally occupied by a Victorian villa called Grove House. Upper Willow Cottage stood next door, while Willow Grove, another substantial residence, stood nearby. Originally called Lords Street, this mile-long, tree-lined thoroughfare was laid out in the 1820s by the two lords of the manor who granted leases for its development. Willow Grove – along with Nile Bank, Beach Priory and Belle Vue – was among Southport’s substantial early residences, built just to the west of what became Lord Street.
A photograph of this site in 1902.
The nationwide retailers began to colonise Lord Street in the late 1890s. The site of this Wetherspoon was occupied by Boots in 1910, after they had extended from the building next door. Boots opened their first Southport store at 199-201 Lord Street in around 1895.
A photograph of Jesse Boot (seated second from right), son of the founder of Boots the Chemists, photographed with his family, c1908.
A photograph of the site of The Willow Grove, c1897.
External photograph of the building – main entrance.
If you have information on the history of this pub, then we’d like you to share it with us. Please e-mail all information to: pubhistories@jdwetherspoon.co.uk